Trunk-strap fastener



(No Model.) v

J. MOHRING.

TRUNK STRAP FASTENER.

- Patented Deo. 26, 1893.

V2. On the lower end of the face of plate A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MOHRING, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUNK-STRAP FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,350, dated December26, 1893.

Application ilecl February 20.1892. Serial No. 422.197. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MOHEING., a citizen of the United States,residin gat Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Trunk-StrapFasteners, of whichV the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of fasteners whichare used with trunk straps to fasten and tighten the same after thetrunk is closed; and the invention consists in the construction andcombination of the various parts, as hereinafter fully described, andthen specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aperspective view of my fastener, showing the same closed totighten the strap about the trunk, and Fig. 2 is a similar view, butshowing the parts disconnected. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the lineca -w, Fig. 1.

Similar letters and numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates abase-plate havingears a', through which it is secured to the front face or bed A of thetrunk. On the face of the upper end of this plateA there are formed ribsor fianges a, the tops of which extend above the body of the plate andhave their upper ends connected by a cross-bar a2, around which issecured the end A3, of the strap which passes over the top of the trunk.Below the crossbar a2 there is a catch or hook formed of aconcavo-convex plate B, which has a hingebar b attached thereto thatpasses loosely through perforations in the ribs or flanges a and isrevolved with the movement of plate B as the same is raised and lowered.A springplate C is secured at the bottom in the lower end of the channelformed by the ribs a, the lower ends of which are increased in heightand are outward. The upper end of the spring-plate is curved outwardfrom the face of the plate A and rests against the center of the bar h,on which there is formed a prong b', that engages the back of thespring-bar and forces the upper end outward, as shown by broken lines atc, Fig. 3, as the catch B is turned up into the position shown in Fig.

there are also formed ribs or flanges d, having the upper ends flaringoutward toward the edges of the plate, the ribs being in position toform a channel in line with that formed by the ribs a. A lip I) extendsdownward from the plate A from between the ribs d and isreceived in arecess f', formed in the lower plate, as will be described.

E represents a base-plate having ears e, through which it is secured tothe front of the body A4 of the trunk below the base-plate A. Ribs orflanges F are formed on the face Y of this plate in position to form achannel-f in line with the channel in the plate A. The upper ends of theribs F are the same distance apart as theV ribs d, and thence theirinner faces curve outward so as to increase the width of the channel f,which increased width is continued to the lower ends of the ribs. Thelower ends of these ribs F are increased in height and form journalbearings, f2, for the spindles g of a lever G. At its free end the leverG is formed of a single arm or handle, the inner end of which isbifurcated to form jaws (,having on their ends spindles or journals g',that `engage the journal bearings f2. A cross-bar H connects the jaws gnear their point of intersection, as(

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, te-which is attached' the end, A5, of the strapwhich passes under the bottom of the trunk. The strap A5 may be securedto the bar H in several ways. In Fig. l the bar H is shown as having adownwardly curved prong h formed thereon.

With this construction the strap A5 is carried around the bar H and hasa series of holes punched in the end K, which laps around said bar andhas the holes therein adapted to be engaged by the prong h, so thatthelength of the strap A" can be adjusted about the bar H. In Fig. 2 theend of the strap A5 is simply looped over the bar H and the end rivetedto the body thereof. I prefer the way of connecting the strap shown inFig. l, as by it any variation in the length thereof may be readilycounteracted. The jaws of the lever G meet at an angle, as shown inFigs. l and 2, which is adapted to lit over a triangular tongue d',projecting from the lower end of the lip D. When the lid of the trunk isclosed the lip D is received in a recess f', formed in the upper part ofthe channel f.

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In operating--the device being in position shown in Fig. 2-the lever israised and the handle forced into the channels formed by the ribs orflanges a ct and d d, so as to rest against the face of the spring-plateC, held forward by the pressure of the prong b. The hook-plate B is thenturned down into the position shown in Fig. l. This movement revolvesthe hinge bar b forward and lowers the prong b', permitting thehook-plate to press the lever handle down closely against the bottom ofthe channel. To hold the lever more securely in place, there is a recessb2 formed in the center of the front of the rim, that takes over andengages a shoulder g2, formed on the front of the lever handle bycuttinga recess therein. To open the fastener again, the hook-plate israised, forcing the handle of the lever outward by contact of the prongb with the spring-plate C, so that the upper end of the lever may beeasily grasped. The hookplates,when raised, also form handles wherebythe lid of the trunk can be conveniently raised. This is a greatadvantage over the handles in ordinary use, `and which projectpermanently from the side `of the trunk, inasmuch as my hook-plates arefolded down flat against the side of the trunk when it--the trunk-isclosed for transportation. The inneredges of the plates A and E are setllush with the meeting edges of the top and body of the trunk, and theends of the flanges at those edges of theplates are enlarged andflattened to form bearings for each other when the trunk is closed. Onthe bottom surfaces of the ends of the Iianges d of the plate A thereare formed tongues 2, that engage corresponding openings in the enlargedends of the flanges F, of the plate E. These tongues serve to hold theparts together more securely; and as will be observed,the fastening isvery ...easyof manipulation, and is so constructed as todbriigttlgeedges of the meeting parts tightly together.` The spring C not onlythrows the handle of the lever outward by the action of the prong b whenthe hook plate B is raised, but it also holds the shoulder g2 in closeengagement with the recess b2 when the said hook plate is lowered.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-` f 1. In a trunk-strap fastener, thecombination, with a lever hinged to one side of the opening of the trunkand having one end of the strap attached thereto between the hinge andthe free end thereof, of a lip on the other side of said opening adaptedto be engaged by the free end of the lever, and a hinged catch or hookconstructed to take over said free end of the lever when it is engagedwith the lip and having a recess therein that engages a shoulder formedin the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a trunk strap fastener, the combination, with a lever hinged toone side of the opening of the trunk and having one end of the strapsecured thereto between the hinge and the free end thereof, of a lipsecured to the trunk on the other side of said opening and adapted to beengaged by the lever, a catch or hook hinged to the trunk on the sameside of the opening to which said lip is secured and constructed to takeover the free end of the lever, and a spring secured beneath the catchor hook and located 'to form a bearing for the free end of the lever,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a trunk strap fastener, the combination, with a lever hinged toone side ofthe opening of the trunk and having one end of the strapsecured thereto between thehinge and the free end thereof, of a lipsecured to the trunk on the other side of said opening and adapted to beengaged by the lever, a catch or hook hinged to the trunk on the sameside of the opening to which said lip is secured and constructed to takeover the free end of the lever, a spring secured beneath the catch orhook and located to form a bearing for the free end of the lever,andaprong formed on the hinge of the catch or hook and constructed toengage the back of said spring as said hook or catch is raised,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a trunk-strap fastener, the combination, with journal bearingsformed on one side of the opening of the trunk, of a lever having oneend bifurcated to form jaws, spindles on the jaws engaging said journalbearings, a cross-bar connecting the jaws between the spindles and thehandle of the lever and having one end of the strap attached thereto, alip secured to the trunk on the other side of said opening and having atongue thereon adapted to engage between said jaws, and a catch or hookconstructed to take over the handle of the lever and attached to thetrunk on the same side of the opening to which said lip is secured,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a trunk-strap fastener, the combination, with journal bearingsformed on one side of the opening of the trunk, of a lever having oneend bfurcated to forni jaws, spindles on the jaws engaging said journalbearings, a cross-bar connecting the jaws between the spindles and thehandle of the lever and having one end of the strap attached thereto, alip secured to the trunk on the other side ot' said opening and having atongue thereon adapted to engage between the jaws, and a hinged catch orhook constructed to take over said handle of the lever when the jawsembrace said tongue and having a recess therein that engages a shoulderformed in the handle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with a lever hinged to the body of a trunk, of a lipattached to the lid thereof and adapted to be engaged by the free end ofthe lever, and a catch or hook hinged to the lid and adapted to takeover the free end of the lever when it is engaged with the lip, the saidcatch or hook being con- IOO lIO

structed to stand out from the lid when disengaged from the lever andform a handle whereby the lid can be raised, substantially as specilied.

7. The combination, with a lever hinged to one side of the opening ofthe trunk, of a lip on the other side of said opening adapted to beengaged by the free end thereof, and a hinged handle formed of aconcave-convex plate constructed to take over said free end of the leverand having a recess therein that engages a shoulder formed in thehandle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with ribs forming a channel on one side ot' theopening of the trunk, of a lever hinged between said ribs, ribs on theother side of said opening forming a channel registering with thechannel first mentioned, a lip in the last named channel adapted to beengaged by the free end of the lever, and a catch or hook hinged in theribs forming the channel in which said lip is located and adapted totake over the free end of the lever when it is engaged with the lip,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with a plate secured to the lower side of theopening of the trunk, of a lever hinged thereto, a plate secured to theupper side of said opening and having a lip thereon adapted to beengaged by the lever, a catch or hook hinged to the upper plate andconstructed to take over the free end of the lever when it is engagedwith the lip, and tongues on the meeting edge of one of said platesformed to engage corresponding openings in the meeting edge of the otherplate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination, with a plate secured to the lower side of theopening of the trunk, of ribs thereon forming a channel, a lever hingedbetween said ribs, a plate secured to the upper side of said opening andhaving ribs thereon forming a channel registering with the channel inthe lower plate, a lip lov cated in the upper channel adapted to beengaged by the lever, a catch or hook hinged in the ribs on the upperplate and constructed to take over the free end of the lever when it isengaged with the lip, and tongues on the meeting edge of one of saidplates formed to engage corresponding openings in the meeting edge ofthe other plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l11. The combination, with a plate secured to the lower side of theopening of the trunk, of ribs thereon forming a channel, a lever havingone end bifurcated to form jaws, spindles on the jaws j ournaled in saidribs, a plate secured to the upper side of said opening and having ribsthereon forming a channel registering with the channel in the lowerplate, a lip located in the upper channel and having a tongue thereonadapted to engage between said jaws, a catch or hook hinged in the ribson the upper plate and constructed to take over the handle of the leverwhen the jaws are engaged with said tongue, and tongues on the meetingedge of one of said plates formed to engage corresponding openings inthe meeting edge of the other plate, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

l2. The combination, with a plate secured to the lower side of theopening of the trunk, of ribs thereon forming a channel, a lever hingedbetween said ribs, a plate secured to the upper side of said opening andhaving ribs thereon forming a channel registering with a channel in thelower plate, a lip located in the upper channel adapted to be engaged bythe lever, a catch or hook hinged in the ribs on the upper plate andconstructed to take over the free end of the lever when it is engagedwith the lip and having a recess therein that engages a shoulder formedin the lever, a spring located beneath the catch or hook to form abearing for the lever, and tongues on the meeting edge of one of saidplates formed to engage corresponding openings in the meeting edge ofthe other plate, substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

13. In a trunk-,strap fastener, the combination, of a base-plate securedto the lid of the trunk, ribs forming a channel on the face of saidplate, a bar to which one end of the strap is secured supported betweenthe upper ends of the ribs, a concave-convex catch or hookplate pivotedin said ribs by a hinge-rod, the said hook plate having a recess formedin the front of the rim thereof, a prong formed on the hinge-rod, aspring secured to the baseplate below the hinge-rod and having its freeend bearing against the same, a lip formed on the lower end of theplate, a base-plate fastened to the body of the trunk below the otherbase-plate, ribs on said lever-plate forming a channel, a lever havingjaws on one end journaled in the ribs on the lower plate, a bar to whichthe other end of the strap is fastened supported by said jaws, the angleformed by said jaws being adapted to take over the lip on the upperplate and the handle of the 1ever having a shoulder constructed to beengaged by the recess in the hook-plate, all constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN MOHRING.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. LANE, WM. R. GERHART.

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